Half-back

Nate DAWG

Kennel Legend
Joined
May 31, 2012
Messages
10,614
Reaction score
24,199
Why have we been unable to recruit, identify or develop a half back since Trent Hodkinson? It has been seven years since we have had a NRL standard half. Every person responsible for recruitment and development are all fkn frauds and should hang their heads in shame.
 

Mackdoggies

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
604
Reaction score
1,088
Half backs are the main reason the NRL shouldn’t expand. There’s just not enough first grade standard ones.

Reynolds, Cleary, Hughes, Townsend, Moses, DCE.

Keary and Johnson are both 5/8’s playing halfback. Hynes is killing it but isn’t a traditional halfback of any kind.

Hastings may become a good halfback. He’s a good footy player at the moment but still more a 5/8 before the last month.

All the rest are lucky to play first grade as a halfback. When there’s only really 6 professional half backs in the comp it’s always going to be an issue.
 

GrogDog

bad attitude
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
9,398
Reaction score
10,139
Why have we been unable to recruit, identify or develop a half back since Trent Hodkinson? It has been seven years since we have had a NRL standard half. Every person responsible for recruitment and development are all fkn frauds and should hang their heads in shame.
How long did it take for a #9? About a decade. These guy's think buying a forward all the time will take care of it. Obviously they are/were wrong. Reynolds would have been a great grab, hell even Hastings.
 

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,741
Reaction score
18,932
Half backs are the main reason the NRL shouldn’t expand. There’s just not enough first grade standard ones.

Reynolds, Cleary, Hughes, Townsend, Moses, DCE.

Keary and Johnson are both 5/8’s playing halfback. Hynes is killing it but isn’t a traditional halfback of any kind.

Hastings may become a good halfback. He’s a good footy player at the moment but still more a 5/8 before the last month.

All the rest are lucky to play first grade as a halfback. When there’s only really 6 professional half backs in the comp it’s always going to be an issue.
You don't need to play with a traditional halfback. Coaches are the problem. Play to your players strengths not a shit system where you don't have the players to play (you can transition into in over time when you start to get/develop players BUT you need to win now regardless where/who you are). Clubs also have other massive problems outside halfback.
 

Mackdoggies

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
604
Reaction score
1,088
You don't need to play with a traditional halfback. Coaches are the problem. Play to your players strengths not a shit system where you don't have the players to play (you can transition into in over time when you start to get/develop players BUT you need to win now regardless where/who you are). Clubs also have other massive problems outside halfback.
Name the last team to win a premiership without one?
 

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,741
Reaction score
18,932
Name the last team to win a premiership without one?
only 1 team can win the premiership. I think most clubs/coaches would be "happy" making the 8. Raiders made a GF with Seizer at halfback. Roosters made the semis with Flanagan at halfback in 2020 (lost 2 close games to Panther and Raider).
 

Scoooby

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Gilded
Joined
Mar 6, 2018
Messages
16,322
Reaction score
15,444
Without a genuine established halfback..

Like mainly , storm , panthers, manly, rorters , Eels for example ..

your not a genuine threat. Reason storm have been on top for decades is the fact they stick with and keep the halves. If not they replace with people they know will be genuine halves.

simple…. Genuine 6&7 ball players you just gotta build a team around them, not try an build a team without them first..!!!
 

CrittaMagic69

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Gilded
SC H2H Champion
2 x SC Draft Champ
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
72,477
Reaction score
77,729
Without a genuine established halfback..

Like mainly , storm , panthers, manly, rorters , Eels for example ..

your not a genuine threat. Reason storm have been on top for decades is the fact they stick with and keep the halves. If not they replace with people they know will be genuine halves.

simple…. Genuine 6&7 ball players you just gotta build a team around them, not try an build a team without them first..!!!
I mean the Storm are playing with 3 fullbacks right now haha
 

Mackdoggies

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
604
Reaction score
1,088
only 1 team can win the premiership. I think most clubs/coaches would be "happy" making the 8. Raiders made a GF with Seizer at halfback. Roosters made the semis with Flanagan at halfback in 2020 (lost 2 close games to Panther and Raider).
Who is happy making the 8? The only aim of the game is to win premierships.

Proves my point though. You can’t win without a real half back. That’s the most important position as it is your on field coach. Second most important is hooker. Then fullback.

5/8’s are nothing special. They are basically the kids in juniors who you passed the ball to if nothing was happening and they just pulled something out of their ass and jagged a try. Anyone with speed, good passing or short kicking game can be a good 5/8. Means nothing without a halfback though.
 

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,741
Reaction score
18,932
Who is happy making the 8? The only aim of the game is to win premierships.

Proves my point though. You can’t win without a real half back. That’s the most important position as it is your on field coach. Second most important is hooker. Then fullback.

5/8’s are nothing special. They are basically the kids in juniors who you passed the ball to if nothing was happening and they just pulled something out of their ass and jagged a try. Anyone with speed, good passing or short kicking game can be a good 5/8. Means nothing without a halfback though.
I just named 2 teams that got close.
 

dogon

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 30, 2018
Messages
582
Reaction score
601
only 1 team can win the premiership. I think most clubs/coaches would be "happy" making the 8. Raiders made a GF with Seizer at halfback. Roosters made the semis with Flanagan at halfback in 2020 (lost 2 close games to Panther and Raider).
Haven't you noticed the vast improvement from the Broncos, Sharks & Cowboys since they signed a quality halfback?
 

bradyk

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
2 x NF H2H Champ
NF Top Scorer
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Messages
15,741
Reaction score
18,932
Haven't you noticed the vast improvement from the Broncos, Sharks & Cowboys since they signed a quality halfback?
Hynes hybrid. Unless they win the comp apparently it doesn't matter tho.
 

Mackdoggies

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
604
Reaction score
1,088
only 1 team can win the premiership. I think most clubs/coaches would be "happy" making the 8. Raiders made a GF with Seizer at halfback. Roosters made the semis with Flanagan at halfback in 2020 (lost 2 close games to Panther and Raider).
We literally sacked Des because he kept limping us into the finals and we were just making up numbers in the 8.
 

Mackdoggies

Kennel Established
Joined
Oct 5, 2018
Messages
604
Reaction score
1,088
That isn't why Des was sacked. If you believe that good for you.
There’s many off field reasons of course. But on field we were still making the finals except his last year in 2017.

2015 and 2016 we made the 8 and we weren’t happy.
 

John Matrix

Kennel Addict
Joined
Nov 26, 2021
Messages
6,085
Reaction score
8,499
We got close in 2012 and 2014. Every year teams get close. Nobody remembers the great feeling of getting close. Premierships are the prize.
While everyone would agree I'm sure most of us would be happy just to make the top 8 let alone a GF anytime soon.
 

MitchNewton

Kennel Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 8, 2016
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
987
We got close in 2012 and 2014. Every year teams get close. Nobody remembers the great feeling of getting close. Premierships are the prize.
One step at a time. You’re dreaming of you think we’ll go from last to first in a flash. You can’t tel me if we made the 8 this year you wouldn’t be thrilled.
 
Top